A Seriously busy November

Dear Friends,

Back from weeks away (big thanks to my house sitting/cat care team!) and it's great to be home. After weeks of hotel room camping, eating out, bumming meals and cooking in others' kitchens, the first thing I did was make soup!  I'm back to a changed Eugene: darker, rainier, piles of leaves in the street. And Boy, are things busy!

A mess of projects are in play, all of 'em fun. The AXES OF EVIL STRING QUARTET  is coming back to life and I'm excited about that. David Andersen (guitar), Nisha Calkins (cello), Rachael Young (double bass) and m'self (fiddle, with occasional mandolin & bouzouki) take "eclectic" to new extremes. Jazz, cafe waltzes, jigs & reels, surf music, etc. I call it Beatgrass. Our debut show is at Territorial Vineyards on December 6, but if you can't wait, 75% of us are playing at the Saturday Market THIS Saturday, November 9 at 2:00 p.m. Free!

 The LOW TIDE DRIFTERS are finishing our album, recording the last racks for a whole new CD of original Drifters music and inspiring songs by Harry Stamper and Alistair Hulett. We're raising rent for mixing and mastering with a special HOUSE CONCERT on November 16. Art work by Ian Moore, special guest performers and a really cool evening are planned. Deets below. BTW, it's a private home, so you have to call ahead for reservations (541 221-2233).

I'm Back In Black this month, playing banjo with the EUGENE SYMPHONY in a set of pieces from "Porgy and Bess" at the Hult Center on November 23. 

Earlier in the day GHILLIE DHU AND THE DHON'TS will unleash our Whizzbang Celtcore at the Holiday Market. Saturday, 11/23 at 1:45 p.m.

AND, coming in December I'll join Linda Danielson and David Stuart Bull for our annual Celtic Holiday show featuring David's reading of Dylan Thomas' "A Child's Christmas in Wales" and music by Linda and me. Afternoon shows on 12/ 14-15 and 12/21-22, evenings on December 17-19 and 12/23, all at Cafe Soriah. Call the cafe for reservations (541-342-4410) because we often sell out.

The calendar in brief:

Saturday November 9, 2:00 p.m. the AXES OF EVIL TRIO at Saturday Market. Free!

Saturday, November 16, 6:00 p.m. (Note early start time!) The LOW TIDE DRIFTERS album launch and rent party. Call 541 221-2233 for reservations.

Saturday, November 23, 1:45 p.m. GHILLIE DHU AND THE DHON'TS at Holiday Market.

Saturday, November 23, 7:30 p.m. the EUGENE SYMPHONY presents "Love and Fate" at the Hult Center (including selections from "Porgy and Bess")

Friday December 6, 7:00 p.m.  THE AXES OF EVIL STRING QUARTET  at Territorial Vineyards (3rd and Adams Street, Eugene).  Free!

Saturday, December 14, 3:00 p.m. "A CELTIC HOLIDAY" begins eight shows at Cafe Soriah. Call ahead for reservations.

More about the DRIFTERS show:

WHAT: Low Tide Drifters Private House Concert and “mastering fundraiser”

WHO: Low Tide Drifters, Melissa Ruth & The Likely Stories, Cross Current, and Wildflowers

WHEN: November 16^th, 6pm

WHERE: To RSVP for directions, call 541-221-2233 or email rachael.anne.young@gmail.com 

COST: Donations for our mastering fund—no one will be turned away for lack of funds. 

DETAILS: For the last few months, Low Tide Drifters have been recording their sophomore release, Music for the Rest of Us.  Featuring seven original songs as well as songs by acclaimed Oregon folksinger Harry Stamper and Scottish songwriter Alistair Hulett, the album pays homage to the extraordinary stories of working people in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.  From the Depression-era romance that unfolds in “My Vivian” to the contemporary struggles of low-wage workers in “Living On Too Little,” Music for the Rest of Us paints a lyrical picture of hope in the midst of hard times.  Low Tide Drifters are working closely with Thaddeus Moore of Sprout City Studios to record and mix the tracks. 

This house concert is to be both a fundraiser for the mastering of Music for the Rest of Us and a showcase of folks who have shared the stage with Low Tide Drifters over the years.  Low Tide Drifters will, of course, play a lively set of tunes, old and new, for your listening pleasure.  This will be an all ages event.

The band will be offering some "sweet deals" at the event.  Fans who kick in twenty dollars will receive an advance copy of the album before its official release date.  Fans who donate fifty dollars or more will receive an advance copy of the album plus a signed, limited edition "song-print" by artist Ian Moore.  Ian is illustrating the Low Tide Drifters' forthcoming lyric book.

With the following special guests:

Melissa Ruth & The Likely Stories (http://www.melissaruthmusic.com)

Cross Current featuring Steve Gibson and Ken Zimmerman (http://www.reverbnation.com/crosscurrent)

Wildflowers featuring Machiko Shirai

If you cannot attend the event, but would like to contribute to the cause via paypal, feel free to make a donation to dsoper@uoregon.edu.